This Mass Effect theme kept me going throughout the process of painting this piece. Definitely recommend it for fans of the soundtrack. [link]

It's funny, a lot of people hate Kaidan as a character but I was always drawn to him for being a little more normal and down to earth than a lot of the other crew, plus he was the first biotic I met (other than my Shepard) and I thought he was really cool just for that. In ME1 since he wasn't a romance option for MShep I just thought of him as being Shepard's best bud and always kept him in my squad, I think Raphael Sbarge is an incredibly talented voice actor too and gives his dialogue a lot more depth.

Then during the horizon confrontation in ME2 I really felt like there was some sort of deeper emotional connection between these two characters that I hadn't noticed before so I was overjoyed that Bioware allowed him to become an option for male Shepard in ME3, since it just sort of made sense to me that the relationship between them had evolved over the course of the series.

So after five years spent waiting for a conclusion to their story and ME3 doing such an incredible job with their developing romance arc I was pretty devastated to see Shepard die (or seemingly die) and have no sense of closure on these characters I'd been so invested in, hence why I chose to paint this piece, giving myself the chance to see them re-unting or at least sharing one final embrace. I'm not too happy with it from a technical standpoint but it is definitely the most emotion I have ever tried to instill in a painting and means more to me than any of my other work.

Your art is amazing and I love you and hate you equally for all the feels it is giving me. ;_;I only currently finished ME3 with the destruction ending (because seriously every other option just didn't seem right to me.) and it left me just so... empty. (Though not as hopeless as those other endings.)

I love this one! The sense of closure is hard as well when I finished the game.. Even though it was the extended "perfect" ending.. It still left me feeling like it was incomplete.. How I would love it if Kaiden went back to see the explosion site just to find male Shepard.. :<

Out of all the couplings, I find KaidenxMale Shepard, truly the best and sincere relationship ever.. D:

Officially loving your works on this couple. Thank you for painting it! I feel a bit better now.

Just came back from tumblr and I have to say I really agree on your opinion why Kaidan being straight in ME1&2 doesn't matter.

I enjoy the development of their relationship through ME1 and ME2, and finally got the courage and chance to be together. And that's why the death of Shepard had torn me apart (red light, but unfortunately Sherpard died).

I know there's a better ending but seeing them saying goodbye to each other and Shepard focused Kaidan to stay behind when he reaches the transport light literally made me cry. I mean, I'm a guy, but I cried over these scenes, for days.

And also, I really really really like your artwork! you are so talented and these pieces heal everything. Keep up with the good work! (in Shepard's tone

Gosh, that is some amazing artwork. And now I wished this is how ME3 would have ended - though I also kind of like that perfect destruction ending when Shepard is seen breathing in the end.

When I played that last mission in London and had my last few scenes of Kaidan and Shep I cried throughout the whole time I was gaming. I failed several times because I couldn't even see the enemies anymore through all those tears. And afterwards I had a migraine from crying too much. Gosh, what a wonderful day. xD

Kaidan was the first ME character I liked - and that already was before I even knew about the game. I just saw him in a screenshot and it was love at first sight, thanks to him I also decided to give the whole series a try and I planned him to be male Shep's love interest from the beginning.

Oooh mmyyyyy Goooosshhhhhhh!!!! *speechless* No words to describe what you made!!!Awesome, incredible, perhaps but not strong enough!!One of the best things I ever see about Mass Effect!!!So emotional, so powerfull, so perfect!!I LOVE it!!!

While I am eternally grateful to Bioware for making such an awesome series I never thought that Shepard was given the proper "ending" he deserved. There was, as you stated, no closure (and it wouldn't have mattered who you chose for your love interest). I hadn't thought about the game in a long time and happened upon your page purely by accident...for which I am extremely grateful. This drawing gives me that sense of closure (and some renewed tears) that I think I needed. I'll take this ending over the Bioware one any day. Thank you!

I feel EXACTLY the same as you. I had kaiden in all my missions ..any time i could pick him i did. I seriously was overjoyed when i realized you could be with him in ME3 it actually made the game for me cus i have had a (videogame) crush on this guy since day 1! Amazing art aswell btw. wow

Exactly how I wanted ME3 to end, you know? Just them in each other's arms before the credits roll in... I kept Kaidan alive for two play troughs (from ME1 to ME3)... then on my recent one that I finished about an hour ago, every choice was the same. so the galactic readiness was the same (beyond sufficient)... so explain how NOW I lose Kaidan in the final push?! I'm still piecing that up... As well as the fact the game only gave me the Refusal and Destroy endings saying that my readiness wasn't good enough. Can someone PLEASE explain this to me?!

I...am at a loss for words. This picture is a masterpiece. Words cannot justify this picture. A sorrowfull pang hit me so hard that iwas almost confused when i looked at your gift to us. Truly moving...i could almost feel my heart cave in!

This is so gorgeous! rlly heartbreaking. do you offer prints of your work? i've been looking for posters with kaidan and the only interesting one i could find was one of yours on ebay. i'd love to have a huge print of this one on my livingroom wall ~<3

omggg this is so beautiful...all of the feelings T__________T.....make me cry again *too emotional attached with this two people*..i'm using mod so i got male shepard with kaidan from me 1 until 3....Thankyou so much you're really talented...

Knowing that Shepard was going to die in ME3 (everything throughout the whole trilogy basically screamed, "Shepard is going to die before the end") made it so emotional to play through. It was especially saddening for the Kaiden/mShep relationship. They just finally realized their love for each other after all that time, and then it was cut short so soon afterward...

I never felt any indication in the first two games that he would die at the end and I doubt Bioware thought that far ahead, we know that they didn't even have a real motive for the Reapers when they released the first game in 2007. Besides he survives in the high EMS destroy ending which in my opinion is the best one.

Love it, love it! The colors surrounding, the splashes of green. Candy for my optic nerves! And yet, it is heart-wrenching to focus on the couple. Another beautiful piece, thank you very much for sharing.

This might sound weird, and I'm not even sure how to explain it, but as a character I don't mind Kaidan, I just like him more when he is with a male Shepard. I think Jane and Kaidan seem rather forced from the get-go (much like I felt Ashley was practically shoved into my male Shepard's lap) and also I happen to completely ship Jane and Garrus. To me, John and Kaidan's romantic story brings so much to their personal stories than other pairings. I think you did a great job capturing that in this work.